Film M Billingham choice

[Big John]

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Hi - with apols for a bag question, how is the Hadley small pro for a film M and 35 summicron?  I have a (basic) Hadley small but don’t yet have the camera so can’t confirm fit. I know if I put my SL 601 in there with a Zeiss ZM then it bulges the bag/doesn’t really fit. I tend to use my Billingham bags to store my kit at home and use eg Thinktank for the SL when out and about (both for size and convenience as well as more common looking). 
 

Does the film M combo fit?  If not, what do folks use?  Thanks. 

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[250swb]

It will easily fit into a Hadley Small but for me it's too small because after you've added another lens and some film, filters, blower brush, etc. and just the stuff you accumulate it can become tight. My Hadley small is at the back of the wardrobe and if I use a Billingham bag it's the Hadley Pro. Saying that I prefer Think Tank Retrospective 5 or 7.

[ktmrider2]

I use one for my MP with a 35 attached to the body and 50 and 90 in separate padded parts of the bag.  Presently, one external pocket holds a notebook, pen, GR3 and extra batteries while the other pocket holds extra film.  Honestly, I think two M’s would fit with attached lenses as long as we are not talking noctilux or 135f2.8.  There is a pretty good chance the MP will soon share the bag with a Q3.

Spent December, 2022, traveling around Vietnam on a motorbike during monsoon.  My M4 with 35 and 90 lenses lived in the Billingham and I can confirm that the bag was waterproof in torrential rains.  I only took a dozen or so film photos in a month as the lighting absolutely sucked.  Most of my photos from that trip were done with the iPhone or GR3.

Edited November 30, 2024 by ktmrider2

[hansvons]

On 11/29/2024 at 11:30 AM, 250swb said:

I prefer Think Tank Retrospective 5 or 7.

 

On 11/29/2024 at 9:43 AM, Big John said:

I tend to use my Billingham bags to store my kit at home and use eg Thinktank for the SL when out and about

The Thinktank bags do all you need. That said, I have used a Tenba DNA 16 Slim since 4 years as my bag for everything day out day in, and it still looks like new. These bags are made really well, are surprisingly lightweight, and look modern without answering unasked questions like the Billighams. Also, you can drop them in a puddle for hours, enjoy a quite velcro system (great for conferences), fast access utilizing a top zipper, etc. If it ever dies (unlikely), I’ll get it again.

They have smaller vesions of the same design. The Tenba 9 could be exactly what you are looking for. I don’t have a use for it, as I carry three cameras when on a trip.

Edited November 30, 2024 by hansvons

[Big John]

Anyone used a Stowaway? Looking at the airline model, says it fits an M11 and small lens. Thanks. 

[Danner]

On 12/1/2024 at 5:03 AM, Big John said:

Anyone used a Stowaway? Looking at the airline model, says it fits an M11 and small lens. Thanks. 

The Billingham '72' will hold  M + smallish lens quite efficiently, but not much else.  Perhaps spare film/battery.  Very good padding/protection, I like/use mine with M6 + 50 'cron.

[Al Brown]

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On 11/29/2024 at 9:43 AM, Big John said:

Hi - with apols for a bag question, how is the Hadley small pro for a film M and 35 summicron?  I have a (basic) Hadley small but don’t yet have the camera so can’t confirm fit. I know if I put my SL 601 in there with a Zeiss ZM then it bulges the bag/doesn’t really fit. I tend to use my Billingham bags to store my kit at home and use eg Thinktank for the SL when out and about (both for size and convenience as well as more common looking). 
 

Does the film M combo fit?  If not, what do folks use?  Thanks. 

Just an off question - is the digital M10 or M11 any different than film M? Because your thread title is specifically mentioning film M... and I cannot see any significant difference.

[LocalHero1953]

1 hour ago, Al Brown said:

Just an off question - is the digital M10 or M11 any different than film M? Because your thread title is specifically mentioning film M... and I cannot see any significant difference.

Since when has that been relevant to bag threads?????

[Al Brown]

35 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Since when has that been relevant to bag threads?????

Exactly, no idea why OP would specify film.

[LocalHero1953]

19 minutes ago, Al Brown said:

Exactly, no idea why OP would specify film.

I meant: since when has the unnecessary nature of a question about a bag (any question, any camera) been a reason for not starting a new thread? 

[ktmrider2]

I can now confirm that a Hadley Billingham Small holds a MP with 35 attached, a Q3 and a 90 Elmarit M.  The pockets hold film, extra batteries and a Ricoh GR3 with room left over for notebook, pens and a few odds and ends.  As I posted earlier, it is totally waterproof unless you submerge it.

I have lots of bags (been playing with cameras since 1966).  I used the original Domke F2 (obtained from Jim Domke himself) when I was a working photojournalist back in the 1970’s.  I have noticed that bags tend to get filled so big bag lots of gear.  Smaller bag less gear but more important less weight.  I actually developed back problems when I was 22 or 23 years old from carrying an F2 stuffed with two motor Nikon F’s and assorted lenses.  I moved on from photojournalism into the Marines and flight school.  Funny thing, the back problems went away when the F2 was no longer my daily load.  I certainly carried heavier loads at infantry school but the load was symmetrical.

Keep your daily or working loads small and the M system is perfect for that-one body and 2 or 3 lenses, even better is one body and one lens.  You will be much happier.

Edited December 11, 2024 by ktmrider2

[aesop]

On 11/29/2024 at 8:43 AM, Big John said:

Hi - with apols for a bag question, how is the Hadley small pro for a film M and 35 summicron?  I have a (basic) Hadley small but don’t yet have the camera so can’t confirm fit. I know if I put my SL 601 in there with a Zeiss ZM then it bulges the bag/doesn’t really fit. I tend to use my Billingham bags to store my kit at home and use eg Thinktank for the SL when out and about (both for size and convenience as well as more common looking). 
 

Does the film M combo fit?  If not, what do folks use?  Thanks. 

 

    ...the following all fit snugly into my Hadley small bag: one MP + 50/1.4A, one MP + 35/2A + 12524 hood and one Japan Camera Hunter 10-roll film holder. The two camera/lens combos have travelled in that bag for pretty much the last 20 years. No full- or half-camera cases involved and certainly no fancy straps (just the minimalist 14312). No funky accessories. And no bulge. Thanks.

 

[Big John]

On 12/10/2024 at 10:48 PM, Al Brown said:

Exactly, no idea why OP would specify film.

Because I am thinking of an M6 and therefore posted my question in the Film section of the forum, that’s all.